info.risd.edu

OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL

The General Counsel is available to provide legal advice and representation to Rhode Island School of Design and its trustees, officers, employees, and student leaders while acting on the College’s behalf. The services of the General Counsel include advice and counsel on all matters having legal significance for the College, coordination of outside counsel handling lawsuits and specialized matters, assistance with policy development, review of major contracts, and preventive law workshops and educational programs.

You may contact the Office of the General Counsel at any time, but you are encouraged to do so early on in matters in which legal issues may arise. With advance planning, it often is possible to reduce legal risks while still achieving your desired goals.

Scope of Legal Advice

As counsel for the College, the General Counsel cannot provide legal advice or representation to individuals in connection with matters against the College or with other personal matters. If you need personal legal advice or representation, you may be able to obtain information or assistance from the resources listed elsewhere on this page. If outside legal counsel is sought, community members are encouraged to use their own due diligence to properly vet such counsel.

Attorney-Client Privilege and Confidentiality

Communications with the Office of the General Counsel are protected by the privilege for attorney-client communications, and therefore are confidential, if they are made for the purpose of seeking legal advice on behalf of the College. Such communications ordinarily can be revealed only to other College officials, on a need-to-know basis. Communications with the Office of the General Counsel on personal legal matters (including matters against the College) or on non-legal matters are not privileged or confidential. The Office of the General Counsel may be affirmatively obligated to disclose any such communications to other College officials if the communications implicate the College’s legal interests. If you are not sure whether your matter is College-related or a personal one, please check with the Office of the General Counsel before sending any communications that you wish to remain confidential.

Although e-mail communications are protected by the attorney-client privilege to the same extent as communications made by other means, e-mail is not completely secure. Accordingly, please exercise appropriate discretion in using e-mail to communicate with the Office of the General Counsel about sensitive matters.

NOTICE REGARDING SERVICE OF PROCESS

Only the General Counsel is authorized to accept service of process against Rhode Island School of Design, whether that service is of a summons and complaint, subpoena, or other legal document. Those wishing to effect service of process against RISD are directed to email the Office of the General Counsel at risdlegal@risd.edu for instructions on effecting proper service of process. An email to the Office of the General Counsel will not be considered proper service on RISD.

What is a subpoena?

A subpoena is a legal document that may be issued in a criminal, civil, or administrative proceeding. A subpoena may be served in order to require an individual to give testimony at a deposition, hearing or trial, or to produce documents or other tangible things for inspection and/or copying by another party. A subpoena must meet several specific requirements before it is legally enforceable. Before responding, the General Counsel will review the subpoena to determine whether it is legally enforceable and, if not, take the necessary steps to so inform the parties and the court.

What should I do with the subpoena?

If someone appears with a subpoena and attempts to serve you with it in connection with your work at RISD:

Decline to accept service, and direct the person to: Office of the General Counsel at 20 Washington Place, Providence, RI, 02903, risdlegal@risd.edu or 401-277-4955.

If you receive a subpoena via U.S. regular or certified mail:

Note the date and time of receipt on the envelope and keep the envelope and certified mail receipt. Please contact the Office of the General Counsel immediately for further instruction.

What if I receive any other kinds of legal notices such as a summons or search warrant?

If you are served with or given a summons and complaint and/or other legal notice that relates to your RISD job or to RISD business, immediately scan a copy of the document you received, together with a request for assistance, to the Office of the General Counsel at risdlegal@risd.edu or 401-277-4955.